A POULTRY EXPERIMENT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26177, 13 June 1946, Page 8

A POULTRY EXPERIMENT

Sir, —In my opinion poultry farmers could improve their position by the adoption of poultry-house lighting. As a tropical bird, the hen finds our long winters unnatural. I have completed a lighting installation for 300-odd second-year birds producing perhaps five or six dozen eggs. After two weeks the experiment took effect, and in five days the egg supply had increased by 200, with a rise of 80 in one day. On test, birds under lighting were in full lay in three weeks, while those without were still not laying. In spite of this large output, starting the first week in July, during the 1944 season, I had not one mated pullet on the place. Third-year birds give results equal to second-year. Lighting does not force, but lias a highly beneficial effect on the hen. I used bright and dim lights—ls of each — controlled by poultry -irae switch. In the morning the dim light came on for 20 minutes before switching to the bright. This avoids shock to the nervous system due to the sudden switching on of a bright light. In the evening the position is reversed, the birds being allowed 20 minutes to get on the perches. This system permits a regular routine throughout the entire year. This alone iustifies installation. In answer to some posible questions. I allowed 13 hours hatchability of eggs. With an incubator capacity of 15,000 eggs I hatched over 50,000 chicks in one season. My day-old pullets sales increased to 10 times on my figures for 1941. Work, market control, lighting and intestinal fortitude have enabled me, at 55, to sign this as a retired poultry farmer.— I am, etc., J. Campbell. Milton, June 6.